…the train that left Spoleto climbs up the slopes of Monte Piano, pierces the mountain and throws itself in a helical path to the bottom of the valley. From here it climbs the course of the River Nera and then that of the River Corno until it reaches Norcia…
The Spoleto-Norcia railway was a narrow-gauge railway with electric traction in the Umbrian Apennines, decommissioned in 1968. For its characteristics it can be defined as an alpine railway and represented a small jewel of railway engineering. Along the way were built 19 tunnels and 24 viaducts considered advanced from an engineering point of view and of great architectural merit. The gradient is always very low and several sections are helical, similar to those found in Swiss railways. At the time of its construction, due to its particular characteristics, it was commonly referred to as the "Umbrian Gotthard".From Spoleto to Borgo Cerreto-Sellano (about 20 km), the railway has recently been cleared of weeds and converted into a cycle-pedestrian path, with the securing of the numerous works of art (tunnels and viaducts) present. The passenger buildings of the former stations at Spoleto, Caprareccia, Sant’Anatolia di Narco-Scheggino, Piedipaterno-Vallo di Nera and Borgo Cerreto-Sellano have also been upgraded and will become reception and information points for tourists.
